This work investigates the breakup of liquid metal droplets experimentally using a shock tube. Droplets of Field's metal melt are produced and their flow-induced deformation and rupture are captured by a high-speed camera. Results are compared to previous data on Galinstan droplet breakup using image sequences and deformation data. Regarding differences, we find that Field's metal droplets show slightly larger deformations and breakup into a larger number of smaller fragments, especially at low Weber numbers. We expect this to be an effect of different oxidation rates. However, both oxidizing metals show a very similar behavior with respect to the breakup morphology, transition between modes, and the timing of the deformation across the investigated Weber number range of 10–100. In addition, core features that distinguish the breakup of metals from that of conventional, water-like liquids are confirmed. Based on the similarities, we propose that the findings can be generalized to also represent other oxide-forming metals. Weber number-dependent fits are presented for the initial deformation time, the time of the onset of breakup, and the maximum cross-stream diameter. In addition, we provide an empirical fit for the time-dependent cross-stream deformation and evaluate it against experimental data and models from the literature. The fits can be used directly in numerical studies or help improve current breakup models.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
October 2021
Research Article|
October 14 2021
Experimental investigation of droplet breakup of oxide-forming liquid metals
T. Hopfes
;
T. Hopfes
a)
Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Technical University of Munich
, Boltzmannstr. 15, D-85748 Garching bei München, Germany
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: thomas.hopfes@tum.de
Search for other works by this author on:
Z. Wang (王召光)
;
Z. Wang (王召光)
Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Technical University of Munich
, Boltzmannstr. 15, D-85748 Garching bei München, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
M. Giglmaier
;
M. Giglmaier
Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Technical University of Munich
, Boltzmannstr. 15, D-85748 Garching bei München, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
N. A. Adams
N. A. Adams
Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Technical University of Munich
, Boltzmannstr. 15, D-85748 Garching bei München, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: thomas.hopfes@tum.de
Physics of Fluids 33, 102114 (2021)
Article history
Received:
July 21 2021
Accepted:
September 22 2021
Citation
T. Hopfes, Z. Wang, M. Giglmaier, N. A. Adams; Experimental investigation of droplet breakup of oxide-forming liquid metals. Physics of Fluids 1 October 2021; 33 (10): 102114. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0064178
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign In
You could not be signed in. Please check your credentials and make sure you have an active account and try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionPay-Per-View Access
$40.00